Timeline

The whole play is Sunday-Thursday in the middle of July Juliet’s birthday is on Lammastide which is August First, so the play takes place sometime between July 8th and 18th.

DAY ONE

I : iSunday, Morning-- Mid-July The Montagues and the Capulets fight and are broken up by Prince Escalus. Romeo pines for Rosaline. Benvolio says that it is 9:00 am: "new struck nine"

Escalus: You Capulet; shall go along with me:And, Montague, come you this afternoon,To know our further pleasure in this case . . . . (1.1.99-101)

Benvolio: Good-morrow, cousin.Romeo: Is the day so young?Benvolio: But new struck nine. (1.1.160-161)

I : iiSunday, AfternoonLord Capulet talks to Paris about his impending marriage with Juliet. Romeo and Benvolio learn about the party (and that Rosaline is going) Lord Capulet says that there will be a party tonight: "This night I hold an old accustomed feast"When the servant enters, Romeo greets the servant with the word, "Godden", which means “good afternoon” Capulet: This night I hold an old accustom'd feast . . . . (1.2.20)

I : iiiSunday, EveningLady Capulet informs Juliet of Paris’ desire to marry her. A servant enters and says: "the guests are come, supper served up".

I : ivSunday, Evening (after scene iii) Romeo and co arrive at the Capulet house. There are many references to torches or lamps, so it is certainly dark outside.

I : vSunday, Evening into nightThe Capulet party: Romeo and Juliet fall in love, Tybalt is displeased. We have to suspend our disbelief because several hours pass over the course of this scene. It begins with the servants setting up and ends with guests leaving, so we see the party from start to finish.

II : iSunday, nightBenvolio and Mercutio look for Romeo while Romeo looks for Juliet.Benvolio: Come, he hath hid himself among these trees, To be consorted with the humorous night: Blind is his love and best befits the dark. (2.1.30-32)

II : iiSunday, before dawn The balcony scene. R&J decide to marry.

Juliet: 'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone . . . (2.2.176).

Juliet: Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow. (2.2.184-185)

Day TWO

II : iiiMonday, Early morningRomeo asks the Friar to arrange his wedding. Friar Laurence: The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night . . . . . Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry, I must up-fill this osier cage of ours . . . (2.3.1-7).Friar Laurence:Thou art up-roused by some distemperature; Or if not so, then here I hit it right, Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night. (2.3.40-42)

(Romeo says that Juliet should come to Friar Laurence "this afternoon". Romeo says that "within this hour" a servant will deliver a rope ladder so that he can get into Juliet's room when night falls.)

II : vMonday, AfternoonThe Nurse delivers Romeo’s message to Juliet. Juliet: At what o'clock to-morrow Shall I send to thee? Romeo: At the hour of nine. (2.2.167-168)Juliet: The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promised to return. … Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve is three long hours. (2.5.1-2, 10-11)

II : viMonday, Early AfternoonRomeo and Juliet get married. Nurse: Go; I'll to dinner [lunch]: hie you to the cell. (2.5.77)

III : iMonday, Afternoon (an hour after II.vi) Mercutio fights Tybalt, Tybalt kills Mercuito, Romeo kills Tyblat. Romeo is banished. Line 4: Benvolio refers to the time of year when he says that "these hot days" are stirring "the mad blood".

It is not dark yet because the night watchmen are not on duty yet. Friar: But look thou stay not till the watch be set;For then thou canst not pass to Mantua,

The Friar repeats this warning when he says if Romeo misses this, then he should wait until the watch changes at dawn.

III : ivMonday, late at night Capulet decides that Paris and Juliet will marry on Thursday.

Capulet: 'Tis very late, she'll not come down to-night:I promise you, but for your company,I would have been a-bed an hour ago. (3.4.5-7)

Capulet: Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed;Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love,And bid her, mark you me, on Wednesday next--But, soft! what day is this?Paris: Monday, my lord.Capulet: Monday! ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon,O' Thursday let it be: o' Thursday, tell her,She shall be married to this noble earl. (3.4.15-21)

DAY THREE

III : vTuesday, Early morningRomeo and Juliet in the morning; Juliet is told she has to marry Paris on Thursday.Romeo:It was the lark, the herald of the morn, No nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east. Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. I must be gone and live, or stay and die. (3.5.6-11)

IV : iTuesday, Late morning or afternoonParis and the Friar discuss the wedding. Juliet and the Friar hatch a plan to fake death. Friar Laurence sends Friar John with a message for Romeo. Friar Laurence: Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow: Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone; Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber: Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilling liquor drink thou off . . . . (4.1.89-94)The exact time is unclear, but it’s not night because: Juliet: It may be so, for it is not mine own.--Are you at leisure, holy father, now,Or shall I come to you at evening mass?Note: Friar Laurence says that the drug will make her sleep for “two and forty hours” which is almost two days. This is to give Romeo believable time to get back from Mantua. IV : iiTuesday, Early eveningJuliet pretends to repent so Lord Capulet moves the wedding up a day. Capulet: Send for the County; go tell him of this: I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. (4.2.24)

Juliet: Nurse, will you go with me into my closet, To help me sort such needful ornaments As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? Lady Capulet: No, not till Thursday; there is time enough. Capulet: Go, nurse, go with her: we'll to church to-morrow. Lady Capulet: We shall be short in our provision, 'Tis now near night. (4.2.33-39)

IV : iiiTuesday, EveningJuliet drinks the drug. Juliet is now drinking the drug a day early, so the information sent to Romeo is now wrong. Juliet: Ay, those attires are best, but, gentle nurse,I pray thee, leave me to myself to-night. . . (4.3.1-2)

IV : vWednesday, MorningJuliet’s “dead” body is discovered. V : iWednesday (Thursday?), Afternoon (Mantua) Romeo learns from Balthasar that Juliet is dead. Romeo buys poison.Balthasar has visited Juliet’s tomb. This means that Balthasar has traveled about twenty-five miles (to Shakespeare on horseback), which would take around five hours (morning into afternoon).

This could also be on Thursday. We can assume that the trip is under a day because Romeo plans to lie with Juliet that very night. V : iiWednesday (Thursday?), EveningWe learn why Friar John never made it to Romeo. Friar Laurence writes Romeo another letter and leaves to meet Juliet.

If Juliet is to wake up that day (two days after she took the drug on Tuesday night) then it makes more sense if this day is Thursday. Friar Laurence: Now must I to the monument alone; Within three hours will fair Juliet wake (5.2.24-25)

V : iiiLate Thursday (maybe Wednesday) into Friday (or Thursday) Paris, Romeo and Balthasar reach Juliet’s tomb. Romeo kills Paris. Romeo kills himself. Friar Laurence finds the bodies. Juliet wakes up and ignores the Friar urging her to leave. The Friar flees when he hears the watchmen. Juliet kills herself. News of the events spread through the streets. The feud ends. Paris: Give me thy torch, boy: hence, and stand aloof. (5.3.1)Paris: The boy gives warning something doth approach. What cursed foot wanders this way to-night, To cross my obsequies and true love's rite? What with a torch! muffle me, night, awhile. (5.3.18-21)Friar Laurence: Bliss be upon you! Tell me, good my friend, What torch is yond, that vainly lends his light To grubs and eyeless skulls? as I discern, It burneth in the Capel's monument. (5.3.124-127)Page: This is the place; there, where the torch doth burn. (5.3.171)Prince: What misadventure is so early up, That calls our person from our morning's rest? (5.3.188-189)Prince: Come, Montague; for thou art early up, To see thy son and heir more early down. (5.3.208-209)Prince: A glooming peace this morning with it brings; The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head (5.3.305-306)